Meet Amir Elisha Whitehead, fencer, future stockbroker and class of 2021 graduate. This Maryland Kid is an impressive young man who by 8th grade had already traveled to Mexico and Guatemala to compete in fencing.
Amir is currently a three-time Junior Olympian, having qualified twice for the Summer Nationals, and is ranked in the top 25 fencers on the East Coast. Amir recently got into his top choice school, Lafayette College, and will be fencing for the D1 school, which is no small feat. There are only 21 colleges that have fencing teams in the U.S. and only 12 to 14 fencers per team, so saying the competition is tough is an understatement. We got to ask Amir a few questions below to find out where his dedication to fencing came from and what advice he has for others who want to find a passion to pursue.
Q: How long have you been fencing?
I first started about 10 years ago, but I began fencing competitively about 4 years ago.
Q: What inspired you to start fencing?
A: My dad did. He used to be an actor, and in many of his plays, they would use sword fighting. He also said that he had watched fencing on television and he was always interested in the sport. When I was younger, I played baseball, but I decided to quit when I was 8. My dad suggested that I fence, so I tried it out. I ended up fencing for a year then going back to baseball. In eighth grade, I decided that I did not want to continue with baseball, so I got back into fencing.
Q: What is your most favorite thing about fencing and your least favorite thing about fencing?
A: My favorite thing is learning all the different moves that I can do in fencing and creating moves. I don’t have a least favorite thing, but I wish that more colleges had fencing programs.
Q: What advice do you have for other kids who haven’t quite found what they are passionate about yet?
A: I would suggest that they look around and try all new things. They should not limit themselves to one thing but instead find something that they are passionate about and stick with it.
Q: What other hobbies do you have?
A: I enjoy hanging out with my family and friends, shopping, and listening to music.
Q: What are four things your friends would say you are really good at?
A: Fencing, helping others, making people laugh, and getting my work done.
Q: What are your plans and goals for the future?
A: I am going to Lafayette College in Pennsylvania in the fall. I plan on studying economics and Spanish, and I want to become a stockbroker.
Q: If you could meet one famous person, who would it be and why?
A: I would like to meet Warren Buffet. He is one of the, if not the greatest, stockbroker of all time. He is smart, and he made a lot of money doing what he does. I would love to get advice from him on how to start my journey and how to rise to the level that he is on.
Q: What are you most thankful for?
A: I am most thankful for my parents. They have worked so hard to give me these opportunities that I have, and there is no way for me to repay them. Without them, I would not be the person I am today.
Q: What is your favorite thing about Maryland?
A: My favorite thing is the food. I really like the seafood here. The crab cakes are the best in America. I cannot find this high-level seafood anywhere else.
-Jenny Cardoza
If you know any Maryland kids we should meet email me at ArtDirector@JecoAnnapolis.com.